Entrepreneur Sam Wilson set out nearly 40 years ago to find a special piece of Texas that would remind him of the ranch of his youth. He wanted native trees and grasslands, rolling hills and panoramic vistas, and space for his family to build new traditions and priceless memories. He wanted a place out in the country, but close enough to schools, shopping, and business centers.

He found the perfect spot on a 64-acre parcel of land filled with wildlife, hundreds of native oak, cedar, and pecan trees and less than an hour from both Dallas and Fort Worth. He named it Shady Oaks Ranch and it became his family’s home, workplace, and playground — a country paradise to walk and explore, to fish, and to ride horses and ATVs.

In those early days, Wilson would drive a tractor and clear the brush while his children rode horses or ATVs throughout the property.

Wilson not only brought in Texas Longhorn cattle but also carved a two-acre pond, completed with an island in the shape of Bevo, the University of Texas Longhorns mascot.